A Top House Leader Backs Romney

Mitt Romney’s list of endorsements from top elected Republicans will grow on Monday when the No. 3 GOP leader in the House announces his support for the former Massachusetts governor.

Associated Press

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), the House majority whip, will endorse Mr. Romney, according to an advance copy of the press release.

The endorsement follows a week in which former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced his support of Mr. Romney and Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), a tea party favorite, said he was “excited” about the prospect of the front-runner clinching the nomination.

Mr. McCarthy is an important voice in the party for his efforts to recruit many of the tea-party freshmen who won seats in 2010, and his job as whip puts him close contact with most House Republicans.

“After a long and grueling primary, it is clear that Mitt Romney is the best candidate to face President Obama and fix the mess of his one and only term,” Mr. McCarthy says in the release.

In an interview last year, the California Republican questioned Mr. Romney’s decision to expand the size of his La Jolla home. Now, Mr. McCarthy will serve as the chairman of his efforts in the Golden State.

Californians don’t cast ballots in the primary until June 5. A poll released over the weekend by the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California showed Mr. Romney with a 19 percentage-point lead over his top rival, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.